Updates

and other noteworthy news

The Orbitron rises into the sky on the power of a D12-3 motor.

Suspended beneath its parachute, the Orbitron descends back to earth.

orbitron reaches new heights on flight 5

29 October 2025: AlectroSpace launched the Orbitron rocket on its 5th overall flight earlier today. Once again, it was carrying the AlectroSat 2.0 as its payload, but this time with a small but significant upgrade. The payload's software was adjusted to increase the sampling rate of the barometric pressure sensor. It was hoped that this would produce more accurate altitude readings throughout the flight. It succeeded; the logged data very closely matched the preflight simulations. The apogee was expected to be 150 meters AGL, and the rocket's actual apogee, 147.8 meters, is very close to this value. Ascent and descent rates were also very near the expected values.

This was also the first time the Orbitron has been launched on a D12 motor, in this case a D12-3. Future flights will likely use D12-5 motors, since the extra two seconds of delay will enable the rocket to arc over slightly before parachute deployment. On this flight, parachute ejection occurred just prior to apogee.

And speaking of parachutes, Flight 5 also saw the use of a 'chute release, set to open the parachute once the rocket descended to 90 meters AGL. This functioned successfully, setting the rocket down safely within the launch field.

Orbitron lifts off on its 4th flight.

Orbitron successfully tests lora telemetry system

21 October 2025: AlectroSpace has just completed the important milestone of transmitting live telemetry from a rocket to a ground station. For this test, the Estes "Orbitron" rocket carried the AlectroSat 2.0 electronics payload. AlectroSat 2.0 consists of the original -1.2 assembly, but with the addition of a LoRa radio transceiver and antenna. An identical transceiver on the ground received the rocket's telemetry (barometric altitude and temperature), and sent it to a laptop , which both displayed and logged the data. Transmissions were conducted at 915 MHz.

The success comes after two partial failures, Orbitron Flights 2 and 3, both of which failed to transmit data past the point of apogee. On Flight 2, a wire broke which caused the LoRa module to cease transmission. Flight 3 experienced a bizarre failure where the ejection charge firing caused the vehicle's power switch to flip to the "off" position. Alterations to the wiring and the installation of a new power switch resolved these anomalies. The Orbitron rocket itself performed flawlessly on all these flights and was recovered successfully each time. The motor type for all these flights was a C11-3.

Flight 4 was the first complete success of the campaign, with the Orbitron relaying its altitude data for the full duration of the flight. Apogee was approximately 50 meters AGL. The rocket was recovered successfully and will soon fly again.

Orbitron Flight 5 is planned for November 2025, and will utilize a D12 motor to attain an even greater altitude. This will allow for longer data transmission time during the flight.

A short video of the flight can be viewed here: Orbitron - Flight 4, 22 October 2025

The Sagittarius water rocket on its launchpad.

Sagittarius lifts off.

Sagittarius plummets toward the ground.

sagittarius suffers recovery System failure

8 October 2025: Sagittarius, one of AlectroSpace's water rockets, flew today for the first time in over a year. Since its previous launch attempt in August 2024, the vehicle has seen various modifications to its avionics and structure. For this flight, the rocket's fuselage had been shortened to reduce mass and complexity, and it was in its single-stage configuration.

The plan was for the rocket to ascend to apogee and deploy its recovery system. Unfortunately, although the liftoff was nominal, the parachute was not seen to deploy and the rocket crashed near the launchpad. AlectroSpace has not yet identified the cause of the failure, but has stated they are planning to repair the rocket and resume flight tests. Sagittarius will fly again in the near future.

The Orbitron thunders into a blue sky dotted with whispy clouds.

orbitron completes first flight

27 September 2025: Today AlectroSpace launched the Orbitron, an Estes rocket, on its first flight. A mid-size rocket with a large payload section, the Orbitron flew on a C11-3 motor and was equipped with a small internal camera. The expected apogee was 90 meters. The mission was nominal, from launch to recovery. AlectroSpace plans to use the Orbitron to loft a variety of payloads in the near future.

A short video of the flight can be viewed here: Orbitron - Flight 1, 9-27-25 #shorts

Zephyr roars aloft on its third flight.

Its motor buzzing like an angry hornet, Ernst veers away into oblivion.

zephyr's third launch, ernst's final flight

13 September 2025: AlectroSpace conducted two rocket launches at an OregonRocketry launch event near Sheridan, Oregon.

The first was the Zephyr, currently AlectroSpace's only high-power rocket. It was launched on an I140 motor to an apogee of approximately 579 meters. This was AlectroSpace's first launch using an "I" motor. Onboard the Zephyr was the AlectroSat 1.3 electronics payload. This recorded video, altitude and GPS position data, while a commercially-built altimeter served as a backup. The flight was nominal; the only slight mishap was that one of the two onboard cameras failed to record video. The rocket was recovered successfully after landing in a nearby corn field. Analysis of the flight data is ongoing.

The second rocket was "Ernst", attempting its sixth flight. It was launching on a D20 motor with an expected maximum velocity of Mach 0.9; this was intended to be the first AlectroSpace rocket to reach the transonic regime. The rocket lifted off, but unfortunately its motor experienced significant combustion instability. The resulting decrease in thrust prevented the rocket from reaching its planned transonic speed; it also caused the vehicle to veer sharply away from a vertical orientation. The rocket flew south over the field and was quickly out of visual range. The last confirmed sighting of it was a distant puff of smoke that indicated it had deployed its recovery system. Unfortunately, despite an intensive search, the vehicle was not recovered. Ernst had flown for its final time.

Three additional rockets (the Star Orbiter, Executioner, and So Long) were planned to launch as well, but these had to be scrubbed due to high winds which began late in the afternoon. AlectroSpace has not yet announced new launch dates for these three rockets.

A video recap of the Zephyr's flight can be viewed here: Zephyr Flight 3, 13 September 2025.

A short video of Ernst's final launch can be seen here: The final launch of Ernst, 13 September 2025

The Jolly Logic 'Chute Release, shortly after its successful flight on the Big Bertha rocket.

'chute release success

30 August 2025: For the first time, AlectroSpace has achieved success with a rocket equipped with a parachute release mechanism. The Big Bertha launched today using a C5-3 motor and carrying a Jolly Logic 'Chute Release, which was set to release at 60 meters. The flight went exactly as planned, ending with the Big Bertha touching down gently under parachute about 10 meters from its launchpad.

It is noteworthy, however, that the parachute didn't inflate until about 15 meters AGL; future tests will see the release altitude set to 90 meters to give the 'chute more time to inflate.

The only mishap of the day was that the ground camera failed to record any footage of the launch. AlectroSpace hopes to record video of future test flights.

Big Bertha lifts off.

A closer view with a green arrow pointing to the Mach diamond, visible as a bright spot in the exhaust plume.

Inverting the colors makes the Mach diamond even more visible!

big bertha creates a mach diamond

28 August 2025: AlectroSpace launched the Big Bertha rocket on a mission to test a new parachute release mechanism the company had acquired. Due to the payload weight, the rocket was fitted with a C5-3 motor. The liftoff was nominal, but the test did not go entirely to plan, with the parachute failing to be ejected from the Big Bertha's body tube. The rocket stayed within its launch corridor and landed with only slight damage to its airframe. It is now being prepared for a second test.

During review of the launch footage, it was discovered that the rocket's C5-3 motor produced a Mach diamond right at the start of its burn. Mach diamonds are a phenomenon typically associated with pressure imbalances between the fast-moving exhaust and the surrounding air. They're usually easier to see with liquid-fuel rocket engines than solid motors, and especially hard to see with small motors like the Estes C5-3. The fact that the Big Bertha's Mach diamond was visible to the camera is remarkable. This sighting is a first for an AlectroSpace rocket.

The completed AlectroSat 1.3 payload.

Another view of the payload.

alectrosat 1.3 is ready for flight

13 August 2025: AlectroSpace has been hard at work on the payload for their Zephyr rocket's upcoming 3rd flight. Now designated AlectroSat 1.3, the little "cubesat" has received numerous additions since its flight last year. It now features a second microcontroller, a more powerful battery, and a GPS receiver. When it flies again this September, AlectroSat 1.3 will log altitude, pressure, temperature, and GPS position data to two micro SD cards. As on the previous launch, an integrated camera will capture onboard video.

The primary launch date is 13 September, with the 14th serving as a backup.

First reuse of a Mark 18 3D-printed rocket motor.

The 3D-printed rocket motor, post-test.

alectrospace completes reuse milestone of a 3d-printed rocket motor

9 August 2025: AlectroSpace has successfully conducted a reuse of one of their newest 3D-printed rocket motors. The motor, one of the original Mark 18 prototypes, performed a full-duration static fire without experiencing any anomalies. This same motor was originally static fired back on 14 April, 2023.

Prior to this latest test, the motor had its original nozzle removed and its interior inspected thoroughly. No significant damage to the motor was found. However, a new nozzle had to be printed and installed for this second test fire. The reason is that the 3D-printed nozzles are essentially ablative in nature; they melt slightly under the intense heat from the rocket's exhaust. A new nozzle is required for each reuse.

This test has validated the reuse potential of these 3D-printed rocket motors, proving that the motor's casing can withstand at least 2 total firings. AlectroSpace plans to reuse future 3D-printed motors in this manner, if the motors appear to be in good shape after a static fire or flight.

ttv Rocket flight tests 1-7 recap video

23 July 2025: AlectroSpace has shared a new video recapping all seven test flights of the Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) rocket. Each launch is explained in detail, along with the lessons learned along the way. The video can be viewed here: TTV Rocket Flight Tests 1-7

TTV stands ready for its 7th flight.

Liftoff of the TTV!

SES-1 (Second Engine Start 1) - the first mid-air ignition of the TTV's stage-2 motor!

TTV stage-2 landed safely under parachute.

ttv flight test 7 - complete success

28 June 2025: After delaying for several hours due to high winds, the Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) finally lifted off on its seventh flight this evening. For the first time ever, it had a 100% perfect 2-stage flight, from launch to landing.

The C11-0 motor in the first stage ignited, and the vehicle stack ascended to around 20 meters. From there, the booster deployed its recovery system and separated from the second stage. The booster landed safely under parachute, while stage-2 successfully ignited its A8-3 motor and ascended even higher. Stage-2 reached an estimated apogee of around 70 meters before deploying its own parachute and landing safely. This is the first time an AlectroSpace rocket has successfully conducted an electronically-commanded mid-air ignition of a rocket motor.

"I'm so thrilled—and relieved—that it worked this time," said AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths. "We've been working for over a year to achieve a successful 2-stage flight with this rocket. Six previous test flights, two bad crashes, months of trial and error, and numerous modifications to the electronics and flight software... it all came together and worked perfectly tonight. The TTV has finally earned its wings, and I look forward to seeing it fly ever faster and higher in the future."

A video recap of the launch will be linked here when it is made available.

The TTV lifting off on its 6th test flight.

ttv flight test 6 - official mishap report

24 June 2025: On the 17th of June, 2025, the Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) lifted off from its launchpad on its 6th test flight. This was the second time the rocket had been flown in its two-stage configuration, this time using a C11-0 motor in the booster and an A8-3 motor in the second stage. The first stage burn was nominal and the TTV successfully separated its stages at about 20 meters in altitude. The booster deployed its parachute and landed intact.

Unfortunately, a failure occurred in the stage-2 igniter system which prevented the stage-2 motor from firing. The stage coasted to approximately 40 meters AGL before arcing over and experiencing a dynamic landing on the launch field. Extensive damage was caused to the vehicle’s airframe, but the onboard electronics were intact and still functional.

AlectroSpace has completed a thorough investigation of the incident and determined the root cause of the failure. A flight-critical electrical wire which transmits the ignition command signal was found to have broken free from its soldered joint. It is believed this damage occurred some time between Flights 5 and 6, the most probable cause being rough handling of the vehicle’s hardware.

The TTV has now been repaired by AlectroSpace, and is flight-ready once more. Corrective measures have been implemented to prevent this type of failure, including additional inspections prior to launch. The next launch of the TTV is scheduled for no earlier than the 28th of June, 2025.

The TTV prepares for flight.

TTV lifts off.

The TTV's second stage, after its crash landing.

ttv flight test 6

17 June 2025: The Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) had its final flight today. This was its second-ever 2-stage flight, but unfortunately it did not go entirely as planned.

The vehicle lifted off just after 10:00 AM and ascended into the sky on a C11-0 motor in the first stage. The booster deployed its recovery system on time, simultaneously separating the two stages. The separation and booster recovery went exactly as planned. The second stage, however, suffered a failure of its ignition system which prevented its A8-3 motor from firing. Subsequently, the second stage experienced a dynamic landing which caused extensive damage to the vehicle's airframe. Surprisingly, the onboard electronic systems were undamaged and still fully functional following the impact.

The TTV is not currently in an airworthy state, but AlectroSpace has stated that they will begin efforts to return the vehicle to flight-ready status.

TTV thunders aloft, as seen in this onboard view.

The red LED lights up right on time, indicating a successful mid-air ignition simulation.

ttv flight test 5

8 June 2025: The 5th test flight of the Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) was a complete success. The rocket lifted off using a C5-3 motor and ascended into the sky. One-quarter of a second after motor burnout, the simulated mid-air ignition test activated exactly on schedule, lighting up a red LED on the side of the rocket. Less than three seconds later, the parachute deployed and the rocket gently landed in the launch field.

This was the first time the TTV's flight code has worked exactly as intended, triggering the simulated ignition at the exact instant it was intended to happen. This is a great step forward for the TTV's launch program.

"The next flight will be with two stages," said AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths. "After all these test flights, we're ready for it now."

TTV lifts off.

The simulated ignition test is completed, but the LED illuminates too late into flight.

TTV flight test 4

29 May 2025: For the fourth time, the Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) has taken to the skies. This was a repeat of the third test flight; the rocket launched using a C5-3 motor and conducted a simulated mid-air ignition test. However, the ignition test experienced the same anomalous delay as on the previous flight. AlectroSpace is investigating this result, and working on implementing corrective measures. Another slight mishap experienced on this flight was that the parachute failed to open during descent. Fortunately, the vehicle was undamaged and found to be intact after landing.

The TTV prepares for launch.

Ignition! The TTV lifts off.

The LED lights up (it's the red circle at the center of the photo).

The TTV descends under its parachute.

ttv flight test 3 completed

21 May 2025: The Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) completed its third test flight. This was its first flight since its partial failure back in May of 2024. For this test launch, the rocket was flying in its single-stage configuration on a C5-3 motor. As on its previous flight, it was equipped with onboard electronics including an Arduino Nano, which serves as the rocket's flight computer. This time, however, the electronics did not have any control over the vehicle's flight profile. Instead, their purpose was to perform a simulated mid-air ignition sequence, a technique that is crucial for a future 2-stage flight. This test involved illuminating a red LED that had been wired to the igniter terminals. An onboard AstroCam monitored the status of the LED. This experiment would test the accelerometer, as well as verify in-flight whether the timing of the simulated ignition was correct or not.

The flight went nominally, with the TTV reaching its targeted apogee of approximately 70 meters and successfully deploying its parachute. The vehicle was recovered intact and in good shape for future flights. After analysis of the rocket's onboard video, it was determined that the simulated ignition did take place, but with a significant delay; the LED was seen to illuminate about two seconds later than expected. AlectroSpace expects to repeat the experiment on the upcoming fourth launch of the TTV, after completing an update to the vehicle's flight software.

The mission logo.

Test Vehicle 5 lifts off under the power of its booster.

Hot-staging! The booster falls away as stage-2 ignites and climbs ever higher.

Stage-2 descends in its bellyflop orientation.

test vehicle 5 completes first 2-stage flight test

8 May 2025: Test Vehicle 5, AlectroSpace's first bellyflop capable rocket to use a rocket motor, completed its first 2-stage flight today. A brand new booster section, sporting three fins, was attached to the aft section of the rocket. On this flight, the booster used an A8-0 motor, while a 1/2A6-2 motor was fitted in the second stage.

The launch was largely successful. Following a nominal first-stage boost phase, the second stage ignited its motor and separated from the booster. After reaching apogee, stage-2 entered into its bellyflop-style descent and landed safely in the launch field. However, the stage-1 booster suffered irreparable damage during the hot-staging maneuver, as well as during its landing. AlectroSpace has announced plans to construct a new, improved booster for future flights.

A video recap of the launch will be linked here when it is available.

The Athena lifts off into an evening sky.

Test Vehicle 5 bellyflops back toward the ground.

All engines running! The Firefly Alpha thunders aloft.

firefly alpha rocket model flies, test vehicle 5 bellyflops

1 May 2025: AlectroSpace flew three rockets this evening: the Estes "Athena", and the scratch-built Test Vehicle 5 and Firefly Alpha model.

The Athena launched first, using an A8-5 motor. The flight and recovery were nominal.

Next, the Test Vehicle 5 flew on a 1/2A6-2, becoming the first of AlectroSpace's bellyflopping rockets to launch using a rocket motor. The flight went exactly according to plan, verifying the vehicle's stability on both ascent and descent. More flights of this rocket are planned for the near future.

Last was the Firefly Alpha, launching on four A3-4T mini motors. This was the greatest number of rocket motors AlectroSpace had ever fitted on a vehicle and attempted to fire at once. All four engines successfully ignited and the rocket shot up to an estimated 130 meters before deploying its parachute. Unfortunately, recovery of the rocket was not possible due to it landing in a tree.

A video recap of these flights can be viewed here: Model Rocket Launches, May 1st, 2025

Big Bertha takes to the skies once again.

Big Bertha catch incoming!

Comanche-3 lifts off for the first time.

big bertha returns to flight, comanche 3 debuts

17 April 2025: It was a busy day at the launch field! The first rocket to fly was the Vehicle 4 air rocket, conducting further tests of its bellyflop descent mode. These tests validated minor alterations made to the design, and confirmed its stability during both ascent and descent.

Next to fly was a basic water rocket (no official designation), with the purpose of testing modifications made to the water rocket launch pad. The results of the tests, while encouraging, are pending review.

After this, AlectroSpace resumed launches of solid-fuel rockets for the second time so far this year. First up was the Starhopper, flying on an A3-4T motor and testing the durability of epoxy used to patch some flight-worn sections of its airframe.

Next was the Alpha 3, launched on an A8-3 motor to determine wind direction and velocity. This was followed by the Air Walker, flying using a B4-4 motor and carrying an altimeter. The flight and recovery were nominal, but the altimeter's reading was determined to be grossly inaccurate.

Then came the main event: the Big Bertha, returning to flight for the first time since 22 April 2022. Lofting itself into the sky on a B4-4 motor, the big orange rocket flew high and then descended gently under its parachute. In a rare but exciting moment, the booster was caught out of the sky by AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths!

The Comanche-3 had its debut flight today as well, flying in its single-stage configuration on an A8-3. The flight was nominal, although the spent motor was observed being ejected from the vehicle at burnout. This event did not impact the results of the test flight.

Last to fly was the Flip Flyer on a B6-2 motor and carrying the AstroCam. This was the only flight to not go completely nominally. Both the booster and the nose section experienced dynamic landings despite deploying their recovery devices. Overall, the vehicle experienced only minor damage, and will fly again soon.

A video recap of the day's extensive launch campaign can be viewed here: Model Rocket Launches April 17th, 2025

Vehicle 4.

Vehicle 4 descends in its bellyflop orientation.

Air rocket testing continues

9 April 2025: Testing continues on AlectroSpace's bellyflop-capable air rockets. The latest version is Vehicle 4, representing the Block 2.4 configuration. Compared to the previous vehicles, it features smaller forward fins that have been shifted aft along the airframe, and much larger aft fins. This design is more stable during descent, and was built to exact measurements from improved CAD drawings.

Further testing of Vehicle 4 will utilize the powerful compressed-air launcher, with flights being conducted in the baseball field.

The completed Vehicle 1.

Vehicle 2 on its launchpad.

Vehicle 2 in its bellyflop descent orientation.

new air rocket

19 March 2025: AlectroSpace's newest air rocket design has taken to the skies! Inspired by an innovative design pioneered by Andrew Probert, this new air rocket is built to ascend vertically and then flip to a horizontal orientation for its descent back to earth. Resembling a bellyflop, this maneuver is designed to reduce the rocket's descent speed as much as possible for a soft landing—in contrast to most air rockets which nose-dive into the ground at high speeds.

The design appears to work well. So far two prototypes have been built and tested, with the second one being slightly more successful than the first. For the first few flights, the rockets were launched using a simple stomp-powered launcher. Further medium-altitude flights utilized AlectroSpace's more powerful compressed-air launcher system. Even higher-altitude tests are planned for the near future.

A recap video of these early test flights can be viewed here: This Air-Powered Rocket Can Bellyflop.

Vehicle 2 prepares for a soft landing.

alectrospace logo updated

1 March 2025: The logo for AlectroSpace has been updated for the first time in 5 years.

The new emblem features blue and yellow text, which is meant to represent hope, inspiration, and opportunity. The generic red rocket on the old logo has been replaced with the silhouette of a Delta II rocket. Also, there are now two version of the new logo: a dark one and a light one.

"project: rigel" announced

19 February 2025: AlectroSpace has announced a new vehicle development program, Project: Rigel. This new program will focus on building and test-flying a rocket capable of controlling its roll rate using a reaction wheel. If successful, Rigel will be the first AlectroSpace rocket capable of actively controlling its roll rate during flight, as well as being the first to fly with a gyroscope aboard.

Stay tuned for updates on this new program.

SUPERNOVa returns to flight

8 February 2025: The Supernova, AlectroSpace's premier 2-stage rocket, has returned to flight. Launching on the power of a B6-0 motor in its first stage, the rocket successfully ascended, jettisoned its booster, and ascended ever higher using the A8-5 motor in its second stage. Recovery was nominal, with no mishaps occurring in any system.

"This was a picture perfect flight," said AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths. "The Supernova is back in business. I can't wait to see it carry new and important payloads once again."

Alka-seltzer rocket launches

23 January 2025: AlectroSpace recently acquired a RunCam 6. This new camera is the company's first to be capable of filming in 1080p at 60fps. To test the new camera, AlectroSpace used it to document four launches of the company's Alka-Seltzer Rocket.

The video can be viewed here: Alka Seltzer Rocket Launches

recap video of zephyr flight 2

17 December 2024: AlectroSpace has just shared a recap video of the second flight of the Zephyr, the company's high power rocket. The launch took place on the 13th of September, 2024.

Video link: Zephyr Flight 2, 9-13-24

ernst flight 5

15 November 2024: The 5th flight of Ernst was 100% successful. This is the first time the little rocket has flown since its failed transonic attempt on September 13th of this year.

For this recertification flight, Ernst was flying on a low power A8-5 motor. Liftoff, landing, and recovery all went exactly according to plan, which bodes well for the planned second transonic attempt, expected to take place in the summer of 2025.

A recap video of Ernst's return-to-flight, as well as other rocket launches from that day, can be viewed here: Model Rocket Launches, November 15th, 2024

Ernst flight 4 & protostar flight 5

13 September 2024: AlectroSpace recently conducted the 4th flight of Ernst, a small rocket designed to reach nearly Mach 1 on full power. Although the flight didn't go nominally, the rocket was recovered intact and will soon fly again following a refit.

The Protostar also launched that day, marking its 5th flight and the first time being fitted with an E motor. The Protostar was also recovered successfully.

A video recap of both flights can be viewed here: Ernst flight 4 and Protostar flight 5

The Zephyr standing ready on its launch pad.

Liftoff! The Zephyr ascends into the sky on its second flight.

Zephyr completes flight 2

13 September 2024: The "Zephyr", AlectroSpace's first high-power rocket, successfully launched on its second flight. This time it was fitted with an H100 motor and was carrying the AlectroSat 1.2 electronics payload. The flight was nominal, with the Zephyr ascending under thrust and successfully deploying its recovery system on time. The landing took place approximately 20 meters from the launch pad.

"I'm so happy with the outcome of this flight," said AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths. "We got good onboard data collection right up until just before touchdown. We'll be analyzing the information it gathered for weeks after this. The rocket's onboard video footage was spectacular too. I can't wait to share all this."

A video recap can be viewed here: Zephyr Flight 2, 9-13-24

mini starhopper celebrates 5th anniversary

3 August 2024: The "Mini Starhopper", the small water rocket that launched AlectroSpace, just had its 5th anniversary. It first launched way back on 3 August, 2019. The vehicle has seen many upgrades and modifications over its half-decade of service, but for this anniversary it was reverted to a configuration similar to its original form. The only major difference was its fairing, which is now shaped like a SpaceX Starship nosecone instead of a Dragon capsule.

A video of the rocket launching on its 5th anniversary can be viewed here: Mini Starhopper 5th Anniversary, 8-3-24

AlectroSat 1.2 integrated into the Zephyr rocket's payload bay.

alectrosat 1.2 completed

26 July 2024: AlectroSpace reports that its first cubesat, now dubbed "AlectroSat 1.2" has been completed. It features some slight design changes and improvements over the prototype Version 1.1 which was unveiled back on 12 June. The new cubesat has already been integrated into the payload section of the Zephyr high-power rocket ahead of its planned September launch.

"I'm really excited for AlectroSat 1.2's first flight!" said AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths. "If everything goes as planned, the cubesat's onboard sensors will record lots of useful data during the flight. And I'm also looking forward to the onboard footage. It will be amazing."

Stay tuned for updates regarding the upcoming launch.

The new Firefly Alpha rocket model.

firefly alpha rocket model

11 July 2024: A new model rocket has been unveiled by AlectroSpace: a semi-scale replica of Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket.

Much like its real-life counterpart, the model features a cluster of four motor mounts—a first for AlectroSpace. However, these are sized for Estes 13mm mini motors, rather than the full-size Reaver engines developed by Firefly. The model is also a single-stage rocket designed to reach an apogee of 130 meters, whereas the real-life Alpha is a 2-stage vehicle capable of achieving orbit.

The first flight for the Alpha model is expected to take place within the next couple months, so stay tuned for updates.

AlectroSat 1.1.

alectrosat 1.1 revealed

12 June 2024: AlectroSpace has unveiled the prototype of their first cubesat, dubbed "AlectroSat 1.1". It is a compact electronics package that measures roughly 8 cm tall by 5 cm wide, and weighs approximately 110 grams. It is capable of logging altitude, temperature, and air pressure data. It can also capture onboard footage of the rocket's flight using its attached camera.

AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths has stated that the final design of the cubesat is still being refined, stressing that this is just a prototype. "I expect the flight version will look a bit different," he said.

AlectroSat 1.1 is planned to be flown as the payload on the "Zephyr" rocket's upcoming second flight, which is scheduled for September of this year.

TTV lifts off on its second test flight.

The second stage of the TTV after impact.

ttv flight test 2

9 May 2024: The second flight test of the Timer Test Vehicle (TTV) rocket has resulted in a partial failure.

The vehicle successfully lifted off from the pad under the power of a D12-3 motor in the first stage. Almost immediately it began veering away from the planned flight path and stabilized on a north-bound trajectory, instead of arcing eastward as intended. After booster burnout, the flight computer failed to command ignition of the stage-2 B6-4 engine, likely due to errors in the system's programming. The passive aerodynamic staging system also failed, with the two stages remaining attached until the booster's ejection charge fired. The first stage parachuted to earth safely and was recovered intact, but the second stage impacted in a neighboring field and sustained heavy structural damage. When it was recovered, it was found that the battery and several wires had become disconnected upon landing, rendering the vehicle inert. Prior to this finding, there was great concern that the avionics and ignition systems were still alive and armed.

While greatly disappointing, this test has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the TTV in its current configuration. AlectroSpace plans to implement extensive repairs and upgrades to the rocket in order to return it to flight-worthy status.

TTV stands ready for flight.

TTV lifts off.

"Ernst" launches on its third flight.

ttv flight test 1 + "ernst" flight 3

2 May 2024: The first flight of the TTV (Timer Test Vehicle) was a success! Launching at sunset on a C5-3 motor, the rocket experienced a perfect ascent and soft landing, the only mishap being a slightly tangled parachute.

Since this was the first flight of this vehicle, it was not fitted with any electronics and was in its single-stage configuration. Future launches will be equipped with a flight computer and utilize the powerful booster stage as well.

This same evening also saw the third flight of "Ernst", AlectroSpace's fastest rocket. It flew on a B6-6 motor and set an altitude record for the company, reach an apogee of approximately 550 meters. The rocket was recovered fully intact, unlike on its previous tests.

A video recap of both flights can be viewed here: TTV Flight Test 1 and Ernst Flight 3

project: spark

1 May 2024: AlectroSpace has concluded work on "Project: Spark", the company's first rocket to be equipped with a flight computer and other electronics. A lot was learned over the nearly 7 months of the vehicle's development.

A recap video of the whole project can be viewed here: Project Spark - my Arduino water rocket

air rocket launches

23 April 2024: AlectroSpace has resumed testing of air-powered rockets. The launcher has seen some upgrades over the last few months, including the addition of an electrically-activated air valve and trigger system. The rockets are still manufactured from paper with duct tape reinforcing, but now feature elements made from stronger corrugated cardboard. Depending on the mission, payloads can be mounted either externally or in a payload bay. Apogees of up to 60 meters have been achieved thus far.

A recap video of the recent flights can be viewed here: Air-powered rocket launches 4-23-24

l1 cert. flight video

21 March 2024: For several months, it was thought that no video footage existed of AlectroSpace's Level 1 High Power Rocketry Certification Flight. But just a few days ago, it was discovered that a photographer named Don Martin had actually filmed the launch on three separate cameras, from liftoff all the way to landing. Two of the cameras shot slow-motion views of the launch.

Don very graciously permitted AlectroSpace to share the footage in this latest video: Video of my Level 1 HPR Cert Flight 9-8-23

Alectrospace in 2024

2 January 2024: AlectroSpace has put together a video highlighting their progress over the last year, and laying out some goals for 2024.

The video can be viewed here: AlectroSpace in 2024

ernst - flight 2

8 November 2023: Ernst, the fastest AlectroSpace rocket, completed its second low-power test flight today, once again using an A8-5 motor. The goal of this flight was to obtain altitude data, as well as demonstrate a successful recovery device deployment.

The ascent went well, and the recovery streamer deployed successfully, leading to a safe landing for the vehicle. Upon recovery, it was discovered that the nose-cone had detached during flight and appeared to be missing. However, the nose-cone was found by teams during the post-flight clean up! Ernst will soon fly again.

Post-flight analysis determined that Ernst achieved an apogee of 135 meters, with a total flight time of 18.75 seconds.

A recap video of the launch can be viewed here: Ernst Flight 2

first flight of ernst

27 October 2023: AlectroSpace conducted the first test flight of Ernst, their first potentially-supersonic rocket. For this low-power first launch, the rocket was fitted with an A8-5 motor. The target apogee was 180 meters.

While the liftoff went smoothly, the vehicle's shock cord snapped during recovery device deployment, leading to the loss of the nosecone. Thankfully, the rest of the rocket was recovered intact. AlectroSpace has stated that they plan to refurbish the rocket for its second flight in the near future.

A video recap of the launch can be viewed here: Ernst Flight 1

aiming to break the sound barrier

19 October 2023: A new rocket has joined the AlectroSpace fleet: Ernst. Based on the Apogee "Escape Velocity" vehicle, and named after Austrian Physicist Ernst Mach, this new rocket is poised to be the fastest vehicle ever launched by AlectroSpace.

Ernst is very lightweight, with a dry mass of barely 13 grams. Even when fitted with an A-type motor, as it will be on its first flight, it is expected to reach an altitude of over 180 meters. The ultimate test will be a D20 motor, which will send the blue rocket hurtling to an altitude of over 700 meters at a predicted peak speed of Mach 0.94, putting it squarely within the transonic regime.

Ernst's first low-power flight is planned for sometime before the end of 2023. If all goes well, a Mach 1 attempt will take place in the first half of 2024. The sound barrier beckons.

alectrospace announces "project: spark"

8 October 2023: AlectroSpace has announced their next advanced rocket program, called Project: Spark. The goal of this new program is to incorporate an Arduino microcontroller and other electronic devices into a water rocket's airframe, along with developing the appropriate coding skills. This will enable new capabilities for the company's water rockets, such as automatic parachute deployment.

The rocket, named Spark, will be a water rocket with a 1-liter propellant tank and a custom payload compartment. The payload compartment will be large enough to contain an Arduino Nano board, power supply, LEDs, wires and servos. Construction of Spark has already begun, with completion and test flights planned for early 2024.

More updates to follow.

alectrospace completes l1 certification

8 September 2023: AlectroSpace successfully completed a Level 1 High Power Rocketry Certification! Using an Aerotech H283ST motor, the sleek Zephyr rocket lifted off straight into a clear afternoon sky. A plume of violet and blue flames roared from its base. After burnout, it coasted to an apogee of around 300 meters, then began its descent. To the shock of everyone, it kept falling for several seconds, seeming certain to impact the ground nose-first. Then, POP! At about 150 meters above ground, the ejection charge blasted away the nosecone and deployed the bright orange parachute. The rocket made a gentle landing about 190 meters north-northwest of the launchpad. Success!

Said AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths: "I'm so excited, but also honestly amazed it worked as well as it did. There were some issues prior to flight that we had to sort out. Also, I messed up and didn't shorten the delay on the ejection charge enough, which nearly doomed the rocket. But it's a learning curve. You learn from your mistakes and keep going. The next launch of the Zephyr is going to be spectacular, and I can't wait for it."

A video recap of the launch day can be viewed here: I got my Level 1 HPR Certification 9-8-23

Air rocket launches

3 August 2023: With the summer fire season in full swing, AlectroSpace has temporarily pivoted to working with non-flame-emitting vehicles. Today, the team was out at the baseball field launching an air-powered rocket using a recently-constructed high-pressure launch system. The rocket was equipped with the AstroCam attached to its nose section, capturing fast-paced footage of the flights it made to 200 feet (61 meters).

A recap of the launches can be viewed here: Air-powered rocket launch 8-3-23

FAlcon 9 launch

21 June 2023: For the first time ever, AlectroSpace successfully flew a scratch-built rocket powered by an Estes rocket motor. The Falcon 9 model rocket represents the company's third attempt at building such a rocket from scratch.

The rocket lifted off perfectly using a D12-5 motor and flew straight and true into the sky. After reaching an apogee of around 300 feet, it deployed its two parachutes; the nosecone descended separately, while the booster extended its landing legs and its own 'chute. In another first for AlectroSpace, the booster stuck the landing and remained upright!

"I'm so blown away that it worked so well!" AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths stated. "Watching it stick the landing was surreal. What an achievement! After almost four months of work, it finally paid off."

8 rockets launched

26 April 2023: AlectroSpace launched 8 rockets today. Four were flying for the first time, the others were flying for their third or fourth times. The rockets launched were: the Athena, the Side-Kick, the MAV, the ProtoStar, the New Shepard, Der Red Max, the Carrot Rocket, and the Xtreme.

The launch of the Side-Kick was significant, since it is the first cluster rocket AlectroSpace has ever launched. It used two B6-4 motors. Equally important was the launch of the Xtreme, which was calculated to have reached an altitude of approximately 1300 feet (397 meters), higher than any previous AlectroSpace launch.

A video recap of the launch day can be viewed here: Model Rocket Launches 4-26-23

3d-printed rocket motor static fire

14 April 2023: AlectroSpace conducted another static fire of a 3D-printed rocket motor. This was the first time a Mark-18-type motor had been test fired at night, and the second static fire for this motor design overall. Like all of AlectroSpace's 3D-printed motors, the fuel was powdered white sugar while the oxidizer was potassium nitrate. The test went nominally, with the burn lasting just under 4 seconds.

Footage of the test can be viewed here: 3D-Printed Rocket Motor Static Fire 4-14-23

alectrospace announces "MISSION: LOOK OUT BELOW"

April 2023: AlectroSpace has announced a new project, titled "Mission: Look Out Below."

For this mission, the Mini Starhopper water rocket will test a new retro-propulsive thruster. The goal is to see if the thruster can be activated automatically to slow the rocket's descent toward the ground. If successful, this technology could eventually lead to propulsively-landing the water rocket like a SpaceX, Blue Origin, or BPS.Space rocket.

"I'm pretty excited for this mission," AlectroSpace CEO Alec Griffiths said. "We've come a long way since the last time we tried making retro-propulsive thrusters. I have a lot more faith in the technology this time around."

The targeted first launch window runs from early-to-late April. More details will be released in the weeks ahead.

success! "mission: yellow brick road" launcheS

22 March 2023: Today AlectroSpace conducted the first three launches of Mission: Yellow Brick Road. This time everything went according to plan. The Mini Starhopper water rocket shot skyward, laden with a payload of toy building bricks and a camera mounted on a selfie-stick. The camera recorded amazing footage of the bricks floating around in free-fall/microgravity as the rocket coasted to its apogee.

"I'm so thrilled that this mission finally launched, and that all three flights went so smoothly," said AlectroSpace CEO Alec Griffiths. "I'm really excited to share the footage with everyone."

A recap video of the launch with detailed explanation can be viewed here: Why I Launched Toy Bricks on a Water Rocket

zephyr fully stacked

1 February 2023: AlectroSpace recently completed assembly of their first high-power rocket, the Zephyr. It is the team's largest rocket to date, and it will soon be receiving its paint scheme. It is not currently known when the Zephyr's first flight will take place, but it is expected to be no earlier than the summer of this year. AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths, however, has stated that he would not be surprised if the L1 launch attempt gets postponed until 2024.

"mission: yellow brick road" first launch attempt scrubbed

20 January 2023: The first launch of Mission: Yellow Brick Road was scrubbed today due to a broken bicycle pump. It is not known when another attempt will be made, but a delay of at least two weeks is expected for the delivery of a replacement pump. AlectroSpace has stated that the Mini Starhopper vehicle and its payload are in a healthy configuration, and that the team is confident that the next launch attempt will be successful.

Terra glm launch

12 December 2022: Today is the second time AlectroSpace has launched the Estes "Terra GLM" rocket model. The missile-like rocket model was fitted with the AstroCam, with which it captured remarkably stable footage during the flight. During its descent by parachute, the rocket was caught out of the air by AlectroSpace founder Alec Griffiths. "I still can't believe I managed to catch it!" says Alec.

Footage of the launch can be seen here: Estes Terra GLM rocket model launch 12-12-22

sls rocket model launch

21 November 2022: In honor of the successful liftoff of NASA's Artemis-1 mission, which took place on 16 November, AlectroSpace decided to launch the Estes SLS rocket model. This was the third flight for this model. It successfully lifted off and shot straight up into the sky to an estimated altitude of about 300 ft. It was recovered safely and will be prepared for future flights.

A video of the launch can be viewed at this link: Estes SLS model rocket launch 11-21-22

Rocket mark 18 first launch

14 October 2022: AlectroSpace conducted a test flight of its new 3D-printed rocket, Mark 18. An improvement over Mark 17, it implements reusability in its design. Mark 18 is modular in construction; the motor can be plugged in or simply swapped out for a new one.

This evening's test saw the rocket arrow up to an altitude of about 4 meters—a record for AlectroSpace's 3D-printed rockets—before tumbling to the ground. Unfortunately, it collided with a fence at the edge of the exclusion zone, severing one of its three fins. However, AlectroSpace has stated that the damage is easily repaired, and the rocket will soon fly again.

Watch a recap of the launch at this link: Launch - 3D-Printed Rocket Mark 18

Star orbiter first launch scrubbed

17 September 2022: AlectroSpace has officially scrubbed the first launch attempt of the Star Orbiter rocket. A combination of miscommunication and other logistical problems led to the cancellation of the launch, which was supposed to take place yesterday afternoon. The launch window continues through today and tomorrow, but AlectroSpace was committed to making the attempt on the first day of the window. They report that there was insufficient time or funding available to recycle for a second attempt. There has been no word on when the next launch opportunity will be, but presumably it will be in 2023. More details will be published as they become available.

rocket mark 17 launch

3 September 2022: For the first time, a 3D-printed rocket designed and manufactured by AlectroSpace successfully achieved liftoff! The rocket, designated Mark 17, is the latest in a series of iterations that AlectroSpace has been manufacturing and testing over the past two years.

This evening's test saw the golden rocket arrow upward to about 1.4m in altitude before running out of fuel and descending to the ground. It was recovered safely.

"This is the biggest achievement we've had so far!" said AlectroSpace founder and CEO Alec Griffiths. "It was such an incredible sight to see it lift off. It's what we've worked so long for, and I'm thrilled with the results."

A previous launch attempt—conducted yesterday morning—ended in failure when the rocket's motor severely underperformed.

Motor Mark 16B test #1

1 September 2022: At the end of the day's testing window, AlectroSpace made the decision to conduct a test of Rocket Motor Mark 16B. A slight variation on the Mark 16 design, it was also fitted with a mass simulator consisting of 4 pennies. The test was a complete success; the rocket motor shot rapidly up the launch rod before running into the restraining tape.

"This test demonstrated that these rocket motors can generate the thrust necessary to lift a payload," said AlectroSpace founder and CEO Alec Griffiths. "Four pennies might not seem like much, but this is a huge milestone for our company. None of our previous 3D-printed motors came anywhere close to achieving this."

Further tests are planned for the near future.

Motor mark 16 test #4

1 September 2022: AlectroSpace conducted the fourth test firing of a Mark 16-type rocket motor. These custom-designed motors are 3D-printed, and part of a campaign to gather data on rocket motor design and fuel mixture ratios. A mass simulator consisting of 4 pennies was attached to the top of the motor.

During the test, the motor rose up the launch rod to a height of about 15cm before burnout. The test is considered to be a partial success, but AlectroSpace reports that they hope for even better performance on the next test.

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